PDF
file of the plant list and plans
December, 2010. Medford Leas is applying for certification by the Pinelands Preservation Alliance in Vincentown as a “certified native garden.” This means that the new garden will become a teaching tool. Another group promoting the use of native plants is the Native Plant Society, which Medford Leas will join in January.
"Now
where does this one go?"
NEW HOME FOR NATIVE PLANTS
by Betsy Pennink
Nobody could be against “native plants,” but everyone at the Barton Arboretum lecture in April learned from the speaker, Douglas Tallamy, about their tremendous importance in the ecology of a garden. Shortly thereafter, three adjacent units in Bridlington became empty simultaneously and a wonderful opportunity presented itself to apply Doug’s ideas to the area around them. The Arboretum Committee, headed by Nancy Barclay, jumped at the chance. Nancy is the daughter of Lewis Barton, founder of the Medford Leas Arboretum. She and her husband will be moving into one of the units.
Upon request, Jack Carman of Design for Generations came up with a blueprint and a list, which he presented at the October meeting of the Arboretum Committee. Jack has done other design work for Medford Leas.
Herb Minkus, Arboretum Coordinator, went to work and found most of the listed plant material at two local nurseries, Pleasant Run and Fernbrook. On November 11, Herb and his landscaping crew installed 29 shrubs and 33 perennials and grasses according to the plan. Five large trees and nine varieties of perennials will be sought and planted in the spring. [The photo at the left shows Herb checking the plan. The current status of the planting is given on the plant list.]
As Herb points out, gardens with native plants are “the wave of the future.” Tallamy had described one reason: native wildlife depend on native plants. Another is that, once established, native plants require little or no water. "They don’t have to be ugly,” says Herb.
